Introduction

The Landscape Specification is divided into five sections. Part 1- Planting and Landscaping Guidelines provides information on recommended landscaping standards and techniques. This section, Part 2 – Specific Uses provides information on landscaping for specific uses. Part 3 – Locality Guidelines provides landscaping guidelines for specific locations. Part 4 - Plant Selection contains an extract from the Sutherland Shire Council publication, ‘Sutherland Shire Plants A Guide to Indigenous Plant Species Suitable for Landscape and Revegetation Projects’. This publication has a system for selecting native plants for revegetation and landscaping. The plants have been classified according to their suitability for various urban environmental zones, their landscape uses and their individual characteristics. Part 5 – Tree protection on Construction Sites provides detailed guidelines for tree protection.

1. Landscaping Guidelines for Swimming Pools

Pools are to be designed to ensure the retention of existing trees.

In circumstances where a pool is in close proximity to an existing tree, elevated decks are preferred as the pool coping to ensure minimal root damage. Sufficient space is also needed around the tree to allow for growth.

Council does not approve trees being removed for reasons of leaf drop or lack of solar access to a pool.

The drainage of spill water from a pool shall be designed so that it does not affect the natural environment of the subject site or adjoining properties

Pool water discharges must not be directed in any circumstances through bushland areas located on private or public land.

The illustration above shows an appropriate arrangement for a pool installation on a steeply sloping site.

Stormwater management increasingly involves the construction of devices to control drainage on site. Water, sediment and nutrients are collected in ponds that function to reduce the impacts of stormwater run off on adjoining areas. When integrated into the site, these devices can create an interesting and practical water feature that enhances the landscape project. A wide range of aquatic plants can be selected to develop habitat for amphibians, birds and insects.

If the pond can be constructed with a relatively long edge compared to the surface area, with variable water depths, a more diverse assemblage of vegetation and potential fauna habitat can be created. Remember to incorporate areas around the pond with gentle gradients and a gap in the vegetation to provide easy access for animals.
The stylised pond can be divided into 3 zones according to the depth, flow and permanence of water. The width of zones can be manipulated to accommodate the volume of water being controlled and the space available on site. Some ponds with only small intermittent bodies of water being detained, may not contain a Zone 1 or a Zone 3. Ponds are dynamic and even natural ponds can completely drain in dry periods. The upper parts of water plants may die off; however many have underground structures such as rhizomes that are capable of reshooting when moisture levels return. For more detailed information about managing urban stormwater and the construction of ponds and wetlands, refer to publications listed in the reference section of this Specification.

Australia has very few native deciduous trees. These are semi-deciduous tropical plants that lose their leaves in response to dry conditions rather than triggered by short day lengths as is the case with cooler climate plants. The benefits of deciduous trees to the urban landscape are their unique ability to provide heavy shade in the summer, and sunlight in the winter, to outdoor living spaces.

Preference should still be for the selection of indigenous plant to provide the appropriate shade. The correct placement of trees with consideration of summer and winter sun angles can often create the desired effect.
Below is a list of deciduous trees including exotic species that integrate reasonably well into the landscape, perform well in the Shire and are not invasive to bushland.